Powell River is an amazing place to live. We are fortunate to live in a place where first nations looked after the land and its animals for many centuries. If not for those dreary winter days, I would call Powell River paradise. I feel blessed to live here.
Last fall I heard two loud bangs coming from the direction of Courtenay Street and went to take a look. Conservation officers had shot a young bear. The bear’s only sin was trying to eat as much as it could before going into hibernation.
It broke my heart. I could not understand why this magnificent, intelligent creature had to die.
We built our community in the middle of the wilderness and share our territory with bears. Yet, by the end of fall, more than 30 were killed. This is not a record our community should be proud of.
How can the people of Powell River present themselves as protectors of the environment while condoning such cruel practices toward natural wildlife?
The nature of these bears is to avoid people. They are not mean or aggressive; it is not in their nature to attack people. Coming into town to find food is their response to hunger and the availability of garbage not properly stowed.
Referring to them as “nuisance bears” ignores the nuisance caused by our own sanitation failures. This is understood by campers, who usually take care to avoid attracting bears. Why can’t our city resolve to be equally conscientious?
We could start by passing a local ordinance requiring residents to pick up fallen fruit and secure garbage and compost.
Relocation is not easy on bears, but is more humane than the shoot-first policy that appears to be in place. It is also more in accordance with standards in place among countries conscientious in protecting natural environments.
I come from the Netherlands, where the nature and wildlife were largely destroyed a long time ago. Dutch tourists love to visit BC and experience the natural beauty Europe has lost.
Several friends from Holland have visited me here. One was lucky to get a glimpse of a black bear in Lund. She still talks about the natural beauty here, but it was seeing the bear that made her holiday so special. However, she expressed dismay upon hearing of the way bears are routinely shot after straying into areas where food is to be found.
That friend has resolved to campaign within her circles to demand City of Powell River adopts more humane policies toward harmless bears and for people to boycott Powell River as a tourist destination if there is no improvement.
I hope our city can take heed of this issue and institute more progressive policies to reduce the presence of bears in neighbourhoods and deal humanely with bears that stray into our gardens.
This will not only mean a great deal to nature lovers around the world, but to succeeding generations who will inherit that natural environment along with the city built within it.
Monica Speckling emigrated to Powell River from the Netherlands and is an advocate for the rights of animals.
